How to tune a 5-string banjoOpen G, double C, sawmill, open D and C, string by string

A 5-string banjo has four long strings and one short one, the 5th string, which starts at the 5th fret and is tuned high. Strings are numbered from the one nearest your toes: string 1 is the highest long string, and string 5 is the short one by your thumb. The tuner in the 5-String Banjo Chords app knows every string of each tuning, the short one included, and it’s free in your browser.

The short 5th string

In open G the 5th string is G4, the G above middle C, an octave above string 3’s G3. That’s the one mistake a plain tuner can let through: both read as “G”. Tune it last, against string 1 at the 5th fret, which is the same note. Above all, don’t tune it much higher than it’s meant to be: a light 5th string breaks easily.

Which tuning?

Start with open G unless your teacher or tab says otherwise: bluegrass, most chord books and most tab use it. Old-time and clawhammer players also use double C (and double D, its capo 2 form) and sawmill, also called G modal. The names aren’t reliable from book to book, so check the letters.

The tunings, string by string

Open G: gDGBD chords ›

The standard, for bluegrass and most chord books. To check by ear: string 4 at the 5th fret matches string 3 open (G), string 3 at the 4th fret matches string 2 open (B) and string 2 at the 3rd fret matches string 1 open (D); the 5th string matches string 1 at the 5th fret.

Double C: gCGCD chords ›

Old-time; capo 2 for fiddle tunes in D. To check by ear: string 4 at the 7th fret matches string 3 open (G), string 3 at the 5th fret matches string 2 open (C) and string 2 at the 2nd fret matches string 1 open (D); the 5th string matches string 1 at the 5th fret.

Sawmill: gDGCD chords ›

G modal, for old-time modal tunes. To check by ear: string 4 at the 5th fret matches string 3 open (G), string 3 at the 5th fret matches string 2 open (C) and string 2 at the 2nd fret matches string 1 open (D); the 5th string matches string 1 at the 5th fret.

D tuning: f♯DF♯AD chords ›

Tunes in D, such as Reuben. To check by ear: string 4 at the 4th fret matches string 3 open (F♯), string 3 at the 3rd fret matches string 2 open (A) and string 2 at the 5th fret matches string 1 open (D); the 5th string matches string 1 at the 4th fret.

C tuning: gCGBD chords ›

An older tuning, handy for playing in C. To check by ear: string 4 at the 7th fret matches string 3 open (G), string 3 at the 4th fret matches string 2 open (B) and string 2 at the 3rd fret matches string 1 open (D); the 5th string matches string 1 at the 5th fret.

G minor: gDGB♭D

Open G with the 2nd string down a fret. To check by ear: string 4 at the 5th fret matches string 3 open (G), string 3 at the 3rd fret matches string 2 open (B♭) and string 2 at the 4th fret matches string 1 open (D); the 5th string matches string 1 at the 5th fret.

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